Custom Medals 101: A Complete Guide to Materials, Finishes, and Shapes

Whether you are organizing a sports tournament, commemorating a corporate awards gala, or hosting a charity run, custom medals are more than just awards—they are lasting symbols of achievement, effort, and belonging. A well-designed medal becomes a keepsake that recipients treasure for years.

But with so many options available, where do you start? Understanding the three fundamentals of custom medal design—materials, finishes, and shapes—is the first step.

Choosing the Right Material

The material you choose affects your medal's weight, feel, durability, and cost. Here are the three most common metals used in custom medal production, along with their strengths and best-use scenarios.

Zinc Alloy — The All-Rounder

Zinc alloy is the most popular material for custom medals, and it is easy to see why. It strikes the best balance between cost, detail, and weight. Zinc alloy has a hardness of 60-80 Shore A and a density of 1.2-1.4 g/cm³. It can stretch 50-80% before breaking. Its working temperature range is -20°C to 50°C. These properties make it ideal for detailed designs at an affordable price point.

At a glance:

1.Cost-effective for bulk orders

2.Lightweight and comfortable

3.Excellent detail reproduction

4.Takes plating beautifully and captures fine detail

Best for: Sports tournaments, charity runs, corporate events, and any project where value and quality need to balance.

Brass — The Premium Choice

Brass has been used in medal making for centuries. Its natural gold-like color gives medals a premium look without plating. Brass has a hardness of 80-100 Shore A and a density of 1.8-2.0 g/cm³. It can stretch 30-50% before breaking. Its working temperature range is -30°C to 80°C. Brass is harder and more durable than zinc alloy, making it resistant to scratches and dents.

At a glance:

1.Natural gold tone—premium look without plating

2.Harder and more durable

3.Tarnish-resistant

4.Classic, prestigious feel

Best for: Corporate awards galas, premium commemoratives, veteran and military medals, and projects with higher budgets.

Iron — The Budget Option

Iron is the most affordable metal option for custom medals. It has a hardness of 70-90 Shore A and a density of 2.0-2.2 g/cm³. It can stretch 20-40% before breaking. Its working temperature range is -10°C to 60°C. While it is the heaviest of the three materials, it offers good structural strength for larger medal sizes.

At a glance:

1.Lowest cost among the three

2.Good strength for large medals

3.Suitable for bulk promotional events

4.Requires plating to prevent rust

Best for: Promotional giveaways, budget-conscious events, and medals with simple designs.

Material Quick Reference

AQ PINS & GIFTS offers all three materials — zinc alloy, brass, and iron. Our production team has over 15 years of experience working with each metal, so we can guide you to the right choice based on your budget, design, and event type.

Understanding Medal Finishes

The finish—or plating—gives your medal its final color and shine. It also protects the metal from tarnishing and wear. Here are the most popular finish options for custom medals.

Imitation Gold Plating

Imitation gold plating (gold-toned electroplating) gives your medal a bright, luxurious yellow-gold finish at an affordable price. It replicates the look of real gold without the high cost. This is our standard gold finish and the most popular choice for first-place awards and corporate commemoratives.

Best for: First-place awards, corporate commemoratives, premium projects.

Nickel Plating

Nickel plating deposits a layer of 5-10 microns of nickel onto the medal surface. It offers a bright white, classic elegance. Nickel plating gives medals a clean, professional look that works well with almost any design.

Best for: Second-place awards, sporting events, general corporate awards.

Copper Plating

Copper plating creates a warm, reddish-brown finish with a distinct, retro feel. It is less common than gold or nickel but is gaining popularity for vintage-themed events and artistic designs. Copper has a unique warmth that standard gold and nickel finishes cannot replicate.

Best for: Vintage-themed events, artistic projects, unique standout designs.

Antique Finishes

Antique finishes create an aged, vintage appearance. They are achieved by applying a dark patina over the plated surface, then buffing the raised areas to create contrast. Antique finishes are more durable than bright plated finishes and hide scratches better. They are available in antique gold, antique nickel, and antique bronze. This finish is especially popular for military medals, commemorative coins, and heritage events.

Best for: Military medals, commemorative events, heritage-themed projects.

Two-Tone Plating

Two-tone plating combines two different finishes on one medal. For example, the front side might be imitation gold-plated while the back side is nickel-plated. This gives your medal a premium, dual-tone look with minimal extra cost.

Best for: Prestigious awards, special commemoratives, high-budget projects.

Finish Selection Guide

We offer over five finishes in-house — including imitation gold, nickel, copper, antique, and two-tone. Our electroplating line also supports black nickel, bronze, and other custom finishes. This ensures consistent color and durability across every batch.

Exploring Medal Shapes

While round medals are the most common, custom shapes can make your medals stand out and better reflect your event's theme. The shape you choose sets the tone for the entire design.

Round

The classic medal shape. Round medals are timeless, versatile, and work well with almost any design. They are the most economical shape option because they use standard tooling. Most round medals range from 1.5 to 2.5 inches (38-64mm) in diameter. A round medal feels familiar and traditional—it is what most people picture when they think of an award.

Shield

Shield-shaped medals convey strength, protection, and achievement. They are popular for military, security, and corporate awards. The shield shape works particularly well with crest designs and emblems, giving the medal a sense of authority and honor.

Star

Star-shaped medals are bold and eye-catching. They are ideal for recognizing outstanding achievement or excellence. The star shape adds a sense of prestige and distinction that makes the recipient feel truly recognized.

Custom Shapes

With custom tooling, virtually any shape is possible—from corporate logos to event mascots. Custom-shaped medals require a one-time mold fee. The mold can be reused for future orders of the same design at no additional cost. If you need a different design in the future, a new mold will be required. Custom shapes create a unique keepsake that participants will treasure, and the visual impact is unmatched.

Shape Selection Guide

Custom shapes are our specialty. Whether you need a shield, a star, or a completely unique shape, we can produce it. Our mold-making team works with you to bring your vision to life—with low mold fees and fast turnaround.

Real Customer Story

A regional badminton tournament organizer needed 400 medals for their annual championship — gold, silver, and bronze levels for different winners. They wanted a clean, professional look at a reasonable cost. Our team presented multiple finish options. The client ultimately chose imitation gold for gold-level winners, nickel for silver-level winners, and copper for bronze-level winners — a classic combination that fits the competition perfectly. The result: 400 medals delivered in 15 days, within budget, and the organizer received positive feedback from players. The same client reordered for the following year's event.

This is just one example. Whether you need medals for a corporate gala, a charity run, or a military commemorative event, we can apply the same level of care and quality to your order.

Putting It All Together

Now that you understand the three fundamentals—materials, finishes, and shapes—here is how to combine them based on your event type.

Sports Tournament: Choose Zinc Alloy for cost-effectiveness and lightweight comfort, Nickel finish for a clean, classic look, and Round shape for tradition and simplicity.

Corporate Awards Gala: Choose Brass for a premium feel and durability, Imitation Gold finish for prestige, and Shield shape for a professional, strong impression.

Charity Run: Choose Zinc Alloy for lightweight comfort, Antique finish for a timeless, distinguished look, and Round shape for classic appeal.

Military Commemorative: Choose Brass for durability and tradition, Antique Bronze finish for a heritage feel, and Shield shape for honor and authority.

Vintage-Themed Event: Choose Zinc Alloy for cost-effectiveness, Copper finish for retro warmth, and Custom shape to match your theme.

Premium Award: Choose Brass for premium quality, Two-Tone finish for striking contrast, and Custom shape for a truly unique presentation.

Promotional Giveaway: Choose Iron for the lowest cost, Nickel finish for a clean appearance, and Round shape for simplicity.

Quick Decision Flow

Q1: What is your budget per medal?

1.Tight budget → Iron for simple designs, or Zinc Alloy if you need more detail.

2.Mid-range budget → Zinc Alloy with your choice of finish.

3.Premium budget → Brass for premium feel and long-lasting durability.

Q2: How important is design detail?

1.Simple text and logo → Iron or Zinc Alloy

2.Complex logo with fine lines → Zinc Alloy (best detail reproduction)

3.Premium sculpted look → Brass with antique or two-tone finish

Q3: What is the event theme?

1.Traditional sports → Round shape, Nickel finish

2.Corporate/Professional → Shield shape, Imitation Gold finish

3.Fun/Creative → Custom shape, Copper finish

4.Military/Heritage → Shield shape, Antique finish

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I mix different materials in one order?

A: Yes. We can produce medals in different materials within the same order. For example, gold-level winners can receive brass medals while silver-level winners receive zinc alloy medals. This allows you to control costs while offering tiered recognition.

Q2: What is the difference between antique and plated finishes?

A: Plated finishes (imitation gold, nickel, copper) give medals a bright, shiny look. Antique finishes create an aged, vintage appearance by applying a dark patina and buffing the raised areas. Antique finishes are more durable and hide scratches better than bright plated finishes.

Q3: Can I order custom-shaped medals?

A: Yes. We can produce medals in virtually any shape—from corporate logos to event mascots. Custom shapes require a one-time mold fee, which can be reused for future orders of the same design. If you need a different design later, a new mold will be required.

Why AQ PINS & GIFTS for Your Custom Medals?

With over 15 years of experience, AQ PINS & GIFTS has been producing custom medals for clients worldwide since 2009. We are a BSCI-certified factory and an authorized vendor for Disney, Marvel, UEFA, and other global brands. Our vertically integrated facility handles everything from design to production, ensuring consistent quality across every medal.

Key Advantages:

1.All three materials available—zinc alloy, brass, and iron

2.Full range of finishes

3.Custom shapes available

4.No minimum order — 1 piece available

5.BSCI certified and Disney-approved factory

Send Your Idea — We'll Design Your Medal

Whether you need medals for a sports tournament, a corporate awards gala, or a charity run, we are here to help. Our team will guide you through material selection, finish options, and shape choices to create the perfect medal for your event.

Send your artwork or idea to our team. We will respond within 24 hours with a quote. Free samples available for qualified inquiries.